Proscar Versus Propecia: An Overview
Propecia® is a prescription medication approved for the treatment of certain types of male pattern baldness.
Proscar® is licensed to treat an
enlarged prostate (also known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or
BPH). While both medications contain the same active ingredient (
finasteride), they are not interchangeable.
Each drug contains a different amount of finasteride. Proscar is available in 5-mg tablets, while Propecia is available in 1-mg tablets.
Can I Cut Proscar Tablets?
Some healthcare providers may suggest cutting Proscar 5 mg tablets into fourths to use instead of Propecia to save money. This can be difficult, however, since Proscar tablets are not round but are apple-shaped. Even if you could accurately cut the tablets, this would not give you the correct dose (1.25 mg, instead of 1 mg), although doing so might save you a significant amount of money. The decision of whether to cut the medication into quarters instead of using Propecia is best made by you and your healthcare provider together.
Propecia and Proscar are not interchangeable. They contain different amounts of the same active ingredient. There is no way to accurately cut Proscar 5 mg tablets so they are equal to Propecia 1 mg tablets. You should talk to your healthcare provider about whether the cost savings may be worth the risk of getting the wrong dose.
